The MCAL landscape through Week 1

Well, after three weeks of various preseason games against teams of varying talent levels, we finally got to see MCAL teams playing MCAL teams this week. Here’s a look at some things we may have learned:
1) The Drake Pirates need to be taken seriously. After coming from behind twice against Washington (who thrashed San Rafael pretty good last week), the Pirates are 3-0 for the first time in many years. By beating the Eagles, the Pirates preserved my greatest hope for this entire season … a week 4 battle of UNBEATENS between Drake and Tam. That’s not a typo. The only two unbeaten teams in the MCAL are Drake and Tam, perennially at the bottom of the standings but, at least for one fleeting moment, on top of the world for now.

During my first season on the MCAL beat (2004), I had to cover Tam vs. Drake in the final week of the season when both teams were winless. Drake ended up winning in a rout. I know Tam’s strength of schedule means the jury is still out on how much they have actually improved, but I don’t think the Hawks had won 3 games total in the last 3 years so I’m not going to try take a 3-0 start this season away from them.

2) The Hornets are still the class of the league. I watched Justin-Siena and Redwood on Saturday and, although both defenses were stout with the exception of three big plays, neither one of those teams appears to have an offense that can keep pace with Novato right now. Take away a 92-yard run by Marcus Solis and a 46-yard catch by Kevin Reinell and the Braves managed a whopping 93 yards of offense against Redwood.

By giving up a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half, the Giants continued a trend that I’ve witnessed all season long a team in full control of a game and one play at a bad time (usually right before the half), ruins its entire day. TL had Analy down 22-8 in the fourth quarter, gave up a touchdown, fumbled on its next play and went on to lose a heartbreaker. Novato had Valley Christian down 7-0 late in the first half before giving up a backbreaking TD before halftime and never recovered. MC was dominating St. Ignatius 14-0 and gave up a touchdown it had no business giving up, again right before halftime. The same thing happened again to Redwood on Saturday. Momentum is a funny thing and it’s amazing how fast a team can go from feeling like a winner to feeling like a loser.

3) If the MCAL is reduced once again to a battle for second place, Justin, Redwood, MC and possibly Drake figure to be the teams in the hunt. Drake right now is the most intriguing team of the bunch because I have no idea what we will get from them this season. You pretty much know what you’re getting year in and year out with the other three teams.

One Response to The MCAL landscape through Week 1

How much did you have to pay the butterfly to get a bfuatieul shot like that? Great subject and so complying. I’d have to pack a lunch, park myself in the garden and wait ten years. LOLI’ll show this to my daughter when she wakes up in the am she loves all creatures great and small.